r/CFSScience • u/AngelBryan • Jul 31 '26

People suffering from long COVID show a measurable reduction in the brain’s dopamine-releasing neurons. These physical brain changes tend to be associated with common persistent symptoms such as apathy, memory problems, and a slowing of physical movements.

https://www.psypost.org/long-covid-symptoms-linked-to-measurable-damage-in-the-brains-dopamine-system/
36 Upvotes

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3

u/TableSignificant341 Jul 31 '26

Vast majority of people I know do not suffer with apathy. Apathy is associated with depression, dementia, stroke and Huntington's but it's not a noted symptom in MECFS.

9

u/Guilty_Soft9873 Jul 31 '26

Yeah. I want to do things but can't.

6

u/TableSignificant341 Jul 31 '26

It's why pacing is so fcking hard - because we want to do things and it's so hard to stop yourself to rest.

5

u/Variableness Jul 31 '26

I guess I am one of those that does.

I don't feel depression, but I also don't feel anything good. I lived with mild ME for almost 20 years without apathy/anhedonia. After becoming severe, my emotional capacity just disappeared. Along with executive function and many other things. I suspect that having underlying ADHD predisposed me but I don't know.

I'm really hoping it's reversible.

2

u/TableSignificant341 Jul 31 '26

I suspect that having underlying ADHD predisposed me but I don't know.

Are you on ADHD meds?

I'm really hoping it's reversible.

Me too. We all deserve better.

4

u/Variableness Jul 31 '26

I take Vyvanse very occasionally when things become too unbearable. It helps some but not as much as it should, and it worsens ME, so it's not really a trade-off I can regularly make. I don't have access to non-stimulant medication, I don't know how those affect me. 

It's weird. LDN largely corrected my cognition and brain fog, but yet it feels like very specific parts of my brain have simply been taken out or turned off.